Romanian ambulance workers protest in Bucharest as new salary law threatens to cut bonuses and overtime pay

Demands and grievances

Hundreds of ambulance staff from across Romania gathered first outside the Ministry of Health and then moved to the Ministry of Labour, responding to a call by the National Trade Union Federation "Ambulanța" (FNSAR). The protesters argue that the draft law on public-sector pay would reduce the night‑shift bonus from 15% to 10%, lower rates for weekends, public holidays and on‑call work, and cap the bonus for especially dangerous conditions at 50% without setting a guaranteed minimum.

“The new salary law cuts our incomes!”

A union statement warned that some categories of personnel risk monthly losses between 2,000 and 4,000 lei.

Scope of the action

Organisers described the protest as one of the largest union actions in the history of Romania's public ambulance services. Operational ambulances displayed "Protest național" signs throughout the day, but emergency medical response was not affected. The rally began at 09:30 in front of the Ministry of Health and continued at 10:30 outside the Ministry of Labour, with participants voicing anger over what they see as a deterioration of working conditions in a sector that runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Government reaction

Minister of European Funds Dragoș Pîslaru stated on Wednesday that the draft law remains open to amendments and that the government would correct provisions that create inequities across the public system.

“Dialogue is absolutely necessary when it is based on arguments and solutions.”

He cited the case of biologists, biochemists and chemists in the health system, where a pay gap lacking objective justification was agreed in principle to be removed after talks with a separate union. Nevertheless, the protesters insist that the current version of the bill fails to guarantee the preservation of their take‑home pay, and the union says further discussions with the interim labour minister are planned.